Apparatus for supporting workmen within an open-ended vessel and carrying materials into and out of the vessel, and method of installing such apparatus in a vessel

ABSTRACT

An apparatus which can be inserted into an open-ended vessel, such as a Q-BOP furnace, to support workmen within the vessel and carry materials into and out of the vessel, and a method of installing such apparatus in a vessel. The apparatus comprises a collar ring for attachment to the vessel surrounding an opening in the bottom, a tower supported from the collar ring for vertical movement, a turntable at the upper end of the tower, a collapsible platform carried by the turntable, an elevator cage movable vertically within the tower, a pair of upstanding guiderail support posts, and rails attached to the posts for guiding the cage and safely stopping it in all emergencies. A single hoist, which is located above an opening in the top of the vessel, raises and lowers both the tower and the cage, eliminating need for multiple hoists. The apparatus breaks down into three relatively compact handling and storage sections, each only about twenty feet in height, which during installation are positioned sequentially under the opening in the bottom of the vessel and connected as they are installed.

United States Patent Van Tassel Feb. 18, 1975 APPARATUS IN A VESSEL [75] Inventor: Robert M. Van Tassel, Franklin, Pa.

[73] Assignee: United States Steel Corporation,

Pittsburgh, Pa.

[22] Filed: Feb. 20, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 444,197

[52] US. Cl 52/741, 52/749, 182/128 [51] Int. Cl. E04b 1/35, E04g 21/16 [58] Field 01 Search 52/741, 745, 747, 749,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,933,918 4/1960 Arnold 182/128 X 3,033,389 5/1962 Abardtin et a1 52/749 X 3,168,163 2/1965 Prosser 182/128 X 3,236,397 2/1966 Lakin 52/749 X 3,256,956 6/1966 Puhringer 182/128 3,259,208 7/1966 Behr 182/128 3,298,154 l/l967 Behr et al. 52/749 3,439,794 4/1969 Park et al. 52/749 X Mahringer et a1. 182/128 X Primary E.raminer-Price C. Faw, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Walter P. Wood [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus which can be inserted into an openended vessel, such as a Q-BOP furnace, to support workmen within the vessel and carry materials into and out of the vessel, and a method of installing such apparatus in a vessel. The apparatus comprises a collar ring for attachment to the vessel surrounding an opening in the bottom, a tower supported from the collar ring for vertical movement, a turntable at the upper end of the tower, a collapsible platform carried by the turntable, an elevator cage movable vertically within the tower, a pair of upstanding guide-rail support posts, and rails attached to the posts for guiding the cage and safely stopping it in all emergencies. A single hoist, which is located above an opening in the top of the vessel, raises and lowers both the tower and the cage, eliminating need for multiple hoists. The apparatus breaks down into three relatively compact handling and storage sections, each only about twenty feet in height, which during installation are positioned sequentially under the opening in the bottom of the vessel and connected as they are installed.

20 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PATENTED 81975 3, 866.382

SHEEI UZUF 10 PAIENIED 3,866,382

SHEET UBUF 10 FIG. /3.

FIG. 4.

PATENTEDFEBI 1 $866,382

sum osordo PATENTEB FEB] 8W5 3, 866. 382

sum m or 10 PATENIED FEB] 8 I875 sum '08 HF 10,

PATENTEB FEB I 8 I975 SHEET 10 0F 10 Ill] APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING WORKMEN WITHIN AN OPEN-ENDED VESSEL AND CARRYING MATERIALS INTO AND OUT OF THE VESSEL, AND METHOD OF INSTALLING SUCH APPARATUS IN A VESSEL This invention relates to an improved apparatus for supporting workmen within a large open-ended vessel and carrying materials into and out of the vessel, and to a method of installing such apparatus in a vessel.

Although use of my invention is not thus limited, the apparatus is particularly useful in lining or re-lining bottomblown oxygen steelmaking furnaces, commonly known as Q-BOP furnaces. The usual Q-BOP furnace includes a large open-top vessel of circular cross section lined with refractory brickwork. The vessel has a removable bottom wall section in which tuyeres are mounted, whereby the bottom also is open when this section is removed. A practice followed heretofore in re-lining the vessels of top-blown oxygen steelmaking furnaces, which are open only at the top, is to lower a tower-like apparatus into the vessel through the open top. The apparatus includes a turntable and collapsible platform on which workmen may stand, and an elevator for carrying materials in and out. Reference can be made to Abarotin et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,033,389, of common ownership, for a showing of one example of an apparatus of this type. A similar practice may be followed in re-lining a Q-BOP furnace if there is sufficient headroom, but advantageously the apparatus may be inserted into a Q-BOP vessel from beneath. Reference can be made to Smith U.S. application Ser. No. 253,217, filed May 15, 1972, also of common ownership, for a showing of one example of an apparatus designed for insertion through the open bottom of a Q-BOP vessel or the like. Other examples are shown in Puhringer U.S. Pat. No. 3,256,956, Behr U.S. Pat. No. 3,259,208, Behr et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,298,154 and Mahringer et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,517,771.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved apparatus of the foregoing type which may be inserted through the open bottom of a large open-ended vessel and is of simplified construction, more easily handled and stored, and safer for workmen than previous such apparatus.

A further object is to provide an improved apparatus of the foregoing type which can be expeditiously inserted and installed into a vessel through the open bottom, and expeditiously removed and dismantled when work within the vessel has been completed.

A further object is to provide an improved apparatus of the foregoing type which breaks down into three relatively compact handling and storage sections when not in use.

A further object is to provide an improved apparatus of the foregoing type which comprises a vertically movable tower and a vertically movable elevator cage within the tower both raised and lowered with the same hoist, eliminating the need for multiple hoists used heretofore.

A further object is to provide an improved apparatus which attains the last-mentioned object and in which both tower and cage are positively guided as they are raised and lowered.

A further object is to provide an improved method of installing a tower and cage apparatus in an open-end vessel in which parts of the apparatus, broken down into handling and storage sections of convenient size, are sequentially positioned beneath the vessel, and hoisted into the vessel and interconnected.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partly diagrammatic vertical sectional view of a vessel in which an apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention is installed;

FIG. 2 is a partly diagrammatic vertically sectional view on line lIIl of FIG. 1, but showing parts of the apparatus in different positions and omitting the transport car and scaffold used with the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic bottom plan view illustrating the relation between the trunnion axis of the vessel and the supports for the tower embodied in the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section on a larger scale on line IVIV of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the tower omitting the turntable and collapsible platform;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the tower and cage;

FIG. 7 is a section on line VIIVII of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a section on line VIIIVIII of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the guide-rail support posts embodied in the apparatus taken from the same side as FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the posts and guide rails taken from the same side as FIG. 2;

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic side elevational view showing the first handling and storage section of the apparatus positioned beneath the vessel prior to installation;

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic side elevational view showing the first handling and storage section hoisted into the vessel;

FIG. 13 is a horizontal section on a larger scale on line XIII-XIII of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic side elevational view showing the first handling and storage section installed in the vessel and the second positioned beneath the vessel prior to installation; and

FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic side elevational view showing the first and second handling and storage sections hoisted into the vessel, and the third handling and storage section positioned beneath.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show diagrammatically a portion of a Q-BOP furnace of known construction, the vessel of which includes a metal shell 10 and a lining 12 of refractory brickwork. The vessel has openings 13 and 14 circular in outline in its top and bottom respectively. A plurality of clamps 15 are pivoted to the underside of the vessel for holding a bottom wall section (not shown) within the opening 14 when the furnace is operating. The floor beneath the vessel carries rails 16 on which a conventional ladle car 17 runs. A trailer or transport car 18 is coupled to the ladle car, but can be removed except when needed for use with my apparatus. The transport car has wheels 19 which likewise run on rails 16 and it carries a scaffold 20 hereinafter described. FIG. 1 shows rail 16 broken away beneath the vessel, but it is to be understood that the rail in reality is continuous beneath the vessel to support the transport car. A conventional fork-lift truck 21 operates on the floor for bringing loads to or from the apparatus. Beams 22 are located above the vessel. Before installing my apparatus in the vessel, I mount a hoist 23 on the beams 22. As best shown in FIG. 11, the hoist has ropes 24 reeved around its sheaves, which ropes are reeved also around the sheaves of a sheave block 25 and thus support the latter for vertical movement. Ropes 24 can remain permanently reeved around the sheaves of both the hoist 23 and sheave block 25. In most instances the vessel is supported on trunnions which are shown diagrammatically at 26 in FIG. 3 and permit the vessel to tilt about a horizontal axis x-x.

The apparatus of my invention comprises first a collar ring 27 and a cylindrical tower 28. The collar ring is circular in outline and is attached to the bottom of the vessel surrounding the opening 14. I use some or all of the clamps l5, normally used to attach the bottom wall section to the vessel, to attach the collar ring. Tower 28 extends through the collar ring into the vessel and is vertically movable. The tower includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced vertically extending channels 29 welded to the outside of its cylindrical body. A corresponding plurality of latches 30 are pivoted to the underside of the collar ring for engagement with vertically spaced latch-receiving openings 31, arranged in rows in the webs of channels 29, whereby the collar ring supports the tower, as well as guiding the tower as it moves vertically.

As FIG. 4 shows, each latch 30 is a lever of the first class balanced to gravitate to a position in which its shorter arm 30a enters a latch-receiving opening 31. A spring 32 assists gravitational forces in assuring that the shorter arm enters the opening. The longer arm 30b of the latch bears against a stack of shims 33 pivoted to the bottom of the collar ring 27 on a bolt 34. Thus the latches act as ratchets; that is, they pivot out of the way against the action of gravitational forces and spring 32 when the tower is raised with respect to the collar ring. but automatically enter the openings to prevent unintended lowering of the tower. The purpose of the shims 33 is to assure that the axis of the tower is vertical even though the vessel may be slightly tilted. As FIG. 3 shows diagrammatically, preferably there are four channels 29 spaced 90 apart, and spaced 45 from the trunnion axis xx. I adjust the angle of the tower axis with respect to the vessel by moving a selected number of shims 33 into a position to be engaged by each latch arm 30b. The latches can be retracted manually to lower the tower, but preferably the underside of the collar ring carries hydraulic motors or equivalent (not shown) operatively connected with the latches for this purpose.

The upper end of the tower carries a turntable 35, and the turntable carries a collapsible platform 36 for supporting workmen within the vessel. The turntable and platform can be of known construction (for example as shown in the aforementioned Smith application) and hence are not shown in detail.

As best shown in FIGS. and 6, I construct tower 28 of separable upper and lower sections 28a and 28b. I detachably join the two sections with bolts 37 which extend through mating internal flanges 38. The walls of the sections have hand holes 39 through which bolts 37 are accessible from the exterior of the tower. The uppermost latch-receiving openings 31a of each vertical row lie partially within the upper section 28a. The 5 other latch-receiving openings 31 lie wholly within the lower section 28b, which is substantially the longer of the two sections. The tower walls carry diametrically opposed internal guide brackets 40, illustrated as located near each end of each section. The walls of the upper section also carry a pair of diametrically opposed internal lugs 41 at their lower edges and four angularly spaced internal stops 42 at their upper edges. The walls of the lower section also carry a pair of diametrically opposed internal lugs 43 at their upper edges angularly offset from lugs 41 of the upper section. The upper end of the upper section has a flange 44 which carries roller bearings 45 for supporting and guiding the turntable 35 (FIGS. 7 and 8). A stand 46 is fixed to the upper section and carries a drive motor 47 for the turntable. The lower edge of the lower section 28b has a cutout 48. The purpose of the guide brackets 40, lugs 41 and 43, stops 42 and cutout 48 is explained hereinafter.

The apparatus comprises next a base 49 which rests on the transport car 18 beneath the vessel. As best shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, base 49 carries a pair of opposed upstanding guide-rail-support posts 50 which I construct of separable upper, middle and lower sections 50a, 50b, and 50c. The two lower sections 500 are fixed to opposite sides of the base 49, and the three sections of each post are detachably bolted to one another end-to-end. The lower ends of the upper sections 5011 and the upper ends of the middle sections 50b carry outwardly projecting lugs 51 and 52 respectively, the purpose of which is explained hereinafter. The main purpose of the posts is to carry vertically extending guide rails 53 likewise constructed of sections 53a, 53b and 53c fixed to the inside faces of the respective post sections. As best shown in FIG. 6, the aforementioned guide brackets 40 on tower 28 receive the posts 50, whereby the tower can ride up and down on the posts, which assist also in guiding the tower. The upper ends of the posts 50 carry a safety governor support bracket 54 fixed to the upper sections 50a. The bracket 54 is in the form of an open rectangular frame and serves also to brace the upper ends of the posts.

I point out that in practice I do not normally assemble the two tower sections 28a and 28b by themselves as FIG. 5 shows, nor the three post sections 50a, 50b, and 500 by themselves as FIGS. 9 and 10 show. Nevertheless I have presented these figures for the purpose of illustrating more clearly the relation of these parts in the apparatus when it is fully installed in a vessel.

Next the apparatus comprises an elevator cage 55 which rides up and down between the posts 50 and through the tower 28. The side walls of the cage carry guideways 56 which receive the guide rails 53 for positively guiding the cage as it moves up and down (FIG. 6). The sheave block 25 is detachably fixed to the top of the cage, whereby the hoist 23 can raise and lower the cage. In its lowered position shown in FIG. 1 the cage rests on base 49 where it can receive materials from the fork lift truck 21 or deliver materials thereto. Base 49 carries a reel 57 for an electric cable 58 which leads to the cage 55 for lights and controls (FIGS. 9 and 10). The aforementioned cutout 48 in the tower permits access to the cage when the tower is in a low position, as FIG. 1 shows. When the cage is raised, materials may be transferred between it and the platform 36 at the top of the tower. An important feature of the invention is that the underside of the cage carries four outwardly projecting feet 59 which are engageable with the aforementioned stops 42 at the top of tower 28 (FIGS. 1 and 6). When I wish to raise the tower, I operate the hoist 23 to raise the cage until the feet 59 abut the stops 42 and then continue to operate the hoist. Thus both the cage and tower move upwardly, usually to a level such that the latches 30 enter the next lower set of latch-receiving openings 31. In this manner I raise the platform 36 in steps from a position near the vessel bottom, as shown in FIG. 1, to a position near the top, as shown in FIG. 2, as work progresses within the vessel. I use a single hoist 23 to move both cage and tower, thus eliminating the multiple hoists shown in the aforementioned Smith application. I control the hoist at a panel 60 located at floor level.

As mentioned hereinbefore, the transport car 18 carries a scaffold for use in conjunction with my apparatus. As shown in FIGS. 1, 11, I2, 14 and 15, the scaffold includes a framework 62 which surrounds the lower portion of the apparatus beneath the vessel. The framework carries a platform 63 spaced a convenient distance below the vessel bottom for workmen to perform such operations as engaging or disengaging the clamps l5, connecting and disconnecting the sections of the tower 28, posts 50 and guide rails 53, and releasing latches 30. The framework 62 also carries a ladder 64 for access to the platform 63 (FIG. 12).

Preferably the apparatus embodies several safety features, among which I point out elevator instantaneous safety gripping devices 68 on the underside of cage 55 (FIG. 1), a governor 69 on the support bracket 54 (FIGS. 1 and 9), an enclosure 70 for the cage at the top of the tower (FIGS. 1 and 2), and a sectional ladder 71 (FIG. 2). The gripping devices 68 per se are of a known construction and serve to grip the rails 53 instantly and stop the cage in the event the ropes 24 break or the hoists 23 gives way. The governor 69 is connected to the cage through an endless rope 72 and serves to stop the hoist motor and cage in the event the cage travels too fast. The enclosure 70 prevents personnel from falling through the tower 28 when the cage is lowered. The ladder 7I furnishes access to the top of the tower independently of the cage.

As mentioned hereinbefore, the apparatus breaks down into first, second, and third relatively compact handling and storage sections A, B and C. Essentially the first of these sections A includes the collar ring 27, the upper section 28a of the tower, the turntable 35, the collapsible platform 36, the upper sections 50a and 53a of the posts and rails, and the cage 55. When the apparatus is disassembled, all parts of the first handling and storage section can be supported on the transport car 18 nested within the scaffold 20, as FIG. 11 shows. The aforementioned lugs 51 on the upper post sections 50a rest on the aforementioned lugs 41 on the tower section 280 to prevent the post sections from dropping from the tower section. The collar ring 27 is temporan ily attached to the upper end of the tower section. The temporary attachment means includes bolts 74 which are threadedly engaged with tapped lugs 75 on the underside of the collar ring 27 and extend into holes in the flanges of channels 29, as FIG. 13 shows. Essentially the second handling and storage section B includes the lower tower section 28b and the middle sections 50b and 53b of the posts and rails. The aforementioned lugs 52 on the post sections 50b rest on the aforementioned lugs 43 on the tower section 28b to prevent the post sections from dropping from the tower section. The various lugs of course do not interfere with movement of the tower downwardly relative to the posts. The angular offset of lugs 41 on the upper tower section 280 from the lugs 52 on the middle post sections 50b prevents any interference. Essentially the third handling and storage section C includes the base 49, the lower sections c and 530 of the posts and rails, and the reel 57.

According to the installing method of my invention, I load the first handling and storage section A on the transport car 18 and use the car to position the section under the opening 14 in the vessel bottom, as FIG. 11 shows. At this stage the rope 72 which operates the governor is bundled compactly within the tower section 28a. I operate the previously installed hoist 23 to lower the sheave block 25 to the cage and I attach the block to the top of the cage. The ropes 24 and block 25 clear the bracket 54. Next I operate hoist 23 to lift the cage into the vessel. The feet 59 on the cage abut the stops 42 in the upper tower section 28a and thus also lift this section and the collar ring 27 temporarily attached to its outside with bolts 74. I stop the hoist when the collar ring reaches the bottom of the vessel, as FIG. 12 shows. Workmen on the platform 63 of scaffold 20 detach the collar ring from the upper tower section and attach the collar ring to the vessel with clamps 15. Next I again operate the hoist 23 to lift the cage and upper tower section to a level such that the latches 30 enter the uppermost latch-receiving openings 31a,

which are partially in the upper section. I adjust the shims 33 to assure that the axis of the tower section is vertical. Thus the collar ring supports the upper tower section. I unfurl the rope 72.

Next I load the second handling and storage section B on the transport car 18 within the scaffold 20, and position this section under section A, as FIG. 14 shows. Workmen on the platform 63 bolt the mating flanges 38 together to connect the two sections, and bolt the upper and middle sections 50a and 50b of the posts to gether I operate the hoist to lift the parts to a height such that they clear the third section C. Next I load the third handling and storage section C on the transport car again within the scaffold, and position this section under section B, as FIG. 15 shows. Workmen on the scaffold bolt the middle and lower sections 50b and 500 of the posts together. Thereafter I make the necessary hydraulic and electric connections and connect items such as the governor 69. I open the collapsible platform 36. If the vessel is to be re-lined I lower the tower 28 to a position such that the platform 36 is near the bottom to start the re-lining operation. I follow similar steps in reverse order in dismantling the apparatus when it is no longer needed.

From the foregoing description, it is seen that my invention affords an apparatus which is of simple construction for supporting workmen within a large vessel and carrying materials to and from the vessel. The apparatus utilizes only a single hoist both to raise and lower the cage which carries the materials, as well as to raise and lower the tower which supports workmen. The apparatus breaks down into relatively compact handling and storage sections for easy installation, dis mantling and storage. All hydraulics and electrical lines are self-contained in the three sections for convenient connection. The apparatus is fully equipped with safety features, and both the cage and tower are positively guided as they move vertically for maximum safety.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for supporting workmen within an open-ended vessel and carrying materials into and out of the vessel, which apparatus comprises:

a vertically movable tower adapted to extend through the open bottom of the vessel;

supporting means for workmen carried by said tower adjacent its upper end;

tower-supporting means for attachment to the vessel adjacent its open bottom;

an elevator cage vertically movable within said tower; and

means on said cage for engagement by a hoist above the open top of the vessel for raising and lowering the cage;

the improvement comprising:

ratchet means on said tower-supporting means engageable with said tower to prevent downward movement thereof but permitting upward movement; and

interengageable means on said tower and said cage for raising said tower with respect to said towersupporting means.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said tower-supporting means includes a collar ring, and said ratchet means includes a plurality of latches pivoted to said collar ring, said tower having a corresponding plurality of rows of vertically spaced latch-receiving openings.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 comprising in addition means carried by said collar ring and cooperating with said latches for adjusting the position of said tower so that its axis is vertical.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said interengageable means includes stops on said tower adjacent its upper end and cooperating outwardly projecting feet carried by said cage.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said improvement further comprises means positively guiding said cage as it moves vertically.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 in which the means positively guiding said cage includes a base adapted to be positioned under the open bottom of the vessel, opposed posts carried by said base, guide brackets carried by said tower and receiving said posts, guide rails carried by said posts, and guideways carried by said cage and receiving said rails.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which said tower, said posts, and said rails are formed in a plurality of sections to facilitate installation of the apparatus in a vessel and removal therefrom.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 in which said improvement further comprises means for breaking down the apparatus into first, second and third relatively compact handling and storage sections.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 in which the first handling and storage section includes an upper section of said tower, said tower-supporting means, upper sections of guiding means, and said cage, in which the second handling and storage section includes a lower section of said tower and middle sections of said guiding means, and in which the third handling and storage section includes a base plate and lower sections of said guiding means upstanding from said base plate.

10. The combination, with an apparatus constructed as defined in claim 1, of a transport car movable to a position under the open bottom of the vessel and adapted to carry the apparatus to a position for installation in the vessel.

11. The combination, with an apparatus constructed as defined in claim 1, of a transport car movable to a position under the open bottom of the vessel and adapted to carry the apparatus to a position for installation in the vessel, and a scaffold carried by said car and surrounding the apparatus, said scaffold affording a support for workmen immediately below the vessel.

12. In an apparatus for supporting workmen within an open-ended vessel and carrying material into and out of the vessel, which apparatus includes a vertically movable tower adapted to extend through the open bottom of the vessel, tower-supporting means for attachment to the vessel adjacent its open bottom, an elevator cage vertically movable in said tower, and guide means for said cage, the improvement in which said tower, said tower-supporting means, said cage, and said guide means break down into first, second and third relatively compact handling and storage sections capable of installation sequentially in the vessel.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 12 in which said first handling and storage section includes an upper section of said tower, said tower-supporting means temporarily attached to the upper section of said tower, upper sections of said guide means, and said cage nested in the upper section of said tower.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 13 in which said second handling and storage section includes a lower section of said tower adapted to be attached to the upper section of said tower, and middle sections of said guide means adapted to be attached to the upper sections of said guide means.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 14 in which said third handling and storage section includes a base plate and lower sections of said guide means adapted to be attached to the middle sections of said guide means.

16. The combination, with an apparatus as defined in claim 13, of a transport car and a scaffold mounted on said car, said handling and storage sections being individually supportable on said car within said scaffold.

17. A method of installing an apparatus in an openended vessel, which apparatus provides support for workmen within the vessel and means for carrying materials into and out of the vessel, said method comprising:

positioning under the open bottom of the vessel a first handling and storage section which includes an upper tower section, tower-supporting means temporarily attached to said upper tower section, upper sections of guide means, and an elevator cage;

hoisting said first handling and storage section through the open bottom to a position in which tower-supporting means is at a level to be attached to the vessel adjacent the open bottom; attaching said tower-supporting means to the vessel, whereafter said tower-supporting means engages and supports said upper tower section;

positioning under said first handling and storage section a second handling and storage section which includes a lower tower section, and middle sections .of guide means;

joining said upper and lower tower sections;

joining the upper and middle sections of said guide means; positioning under said second handling and storage section a third handling and storage section which includes a base plate and lower sections of guide means upstanding from said base plate; and

joining the middle and lower sections of said guide means.

18. A method as defined in claim 17 in which means 20. A method as defined in claim 17 including the on Said cage abuts means on Said upper lower Section further step of adjusting said tower sections to a posito hoist said upper tower section as said cage is hoisted.

19. A methOd as defined in claim 17 in which said tron in which their axis is vertical even though the veshandling and storage sections are loaded in sequence Sel may be tiltedon a transport car which carries them under the vessel. 

1. In an apparatus for supporting workmen within an open-ended vessel and carrying materials into and out of the vessel, which apparatus comprises: a vertically movable tower adapted to extend through the open bottom of the vessel; supporting means for workmen carried by said tower adjacent its upper end; tower-supporting means for attachment to the vessel adjacent its open bottom; an elevator cage vertically movable within said tower; and means on said cage for engagement by a hoist above the open top of the vessel for raising and lowering the cage; the improvement comprising: ratchet means on said tower-supporting means engageable with said tower to prevent downward movement thereof but permitting upward movement; and interengageable means on said tower and said cage for raising said tower with respect to said tower-supporting means.
 2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said tower-supporting means includes a collar ring, and said ratchet means includes a plurality of latches pivoted to said collar ring, saId tower having a corresponding plurality of rows of vertically spaced latch-receiving openings.
 3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 comprising in addition means carried by said collar ring and cooperating with said latches for adjusting the position of said tower so that its axis is vertical.
 4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said interengageable means includes stops on said tower adjacent its upper end and cooperating outwardly projecting feet carried by said cage.
 5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said improvement further comprises means positively guiding said cage as it moves vertically.
 6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 in which the means positively guiding said cage includes a base adapted to be positioned under the open bottom of the vessel, opposed posts carried by said base, guide brackets carried by said tower and receiving said posts, guide rails carried by said posts, and guideways carried by said cage and receiving said rails.
 7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which said tower, said posts, and said rails are formed in a plurality of sections to facilitate installation of the apparatus in a vessel and removal therefrom.
 8. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 in which said improvement further comprises means for breaking down the apparatus into first, second and third relatively compact handling and storage sections.
 9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 in which the first handling and storage section includes an upper section of said tower, said tower-supporting means, upper sections of guiding means, and said cage, in which the second handling and storage section includes a lower section of said tower and middle sections of said guiding means, and in which the third handling and storage section includes a base plate and lower sections of said guiding means upstanding from said base plate.
 10. The combination, with an apparatus constructed as defined in claim 1, of a transport car movable to a position under the open bottom of the vessel and adapted to carry the apparatus to a position for installation in the vessel.
 11. The combination, with an apparatus constructed as defined in claim 1, of a transport car movable to a position under the open bottom of the vessel and adapted to carry the apparatus to a position for installation in the vessel, and a scaffold carried by said car and surrounding the apparatus, said scaffold affording a support for workmen immediately below the vessel.
 12. In an apparatus for supporting workmen within an open-ended vessel and carrying material into and out of the vessel, which apparatus includes a vertically movable tower adapted to extend through the open bottom of the vessel, tower-supporting means for attachment to the vessel adjacent its open bottom, an elevator cage vertically movable in said tower, and guide means for said cage, the improvement in which said tower, said tower-supporting means, said cage, and said guide means break down into first, second and third relatively compact handling and storage sections capable of installation sequentially in the vessel.
 13. An apparatus as defined in claim 12 in which said first handling and storage section includes an upper section of said tower, said tower-supporting means temporarily attached to the upper section of said tower, upper sections of said guide means, and said cage nested in the upper section of said tower.
 14. An apparatus as defined in claim 13 in which said second handling and storage section includes a lower section of said tower adapted to be attached to the upper section of said tower, and middle sections of said guide means adapted to be attached to the upper sections of said guide means.
 15. An apparatus as defined in claim 14 in which said third handling and storage section includes a base plate and lower sections of said guide means adapted to be attached to the middle sections of said guide means.
 16. The combination, with an apparatus as defined in claim 13, of a transport car and a scaffold mounted on said car, said handling and storage sections being individually supportable on said car within said scaffold.
 17. A method of installing an apparatus in an openended vessel, which apparatus provides support for workmen within the vessel and means for carrying materials into and out of the vessel, said method comprising: positioning under the open bottom of the vessel a first handling and storage section which includes an upper tower section, tower-supporting means temporarily attached to said upper tower section, upper sections of guide means, and an elevator cage; hoisting said first handling and storage section through the open bottom to a position in which tower-supporting means is at a level to be attached to the vessel adjacent the open bottom; attaching said tower-supporting means to the vessel, whereafter said tower-supporting means engages and supports said upper tower section; positioning under said first handling and storage section a second handling and storage section which includes a lower tower section, and middle sections of guide means; joining said upper and lower tower sections; joining the upper and middle sections of said guide means; positioning under said second handling and storage section a third handling and storage section which includes a base plate and lower sections of guide means upstanding from said base plate; and joining the middle and lower sections of said guide means.
 18. A method as defined in claim 17 in which means on said cage abuts means on said upper tower section to hoist said upper tower section as said cage is hoisted.
 19. A method as defined in claim 17 in which said handling and storage sections are loaded in sequence on a transport car which carries them under the vessel.
 20. A method as defined in claim 17 including the further step of adjusting said tower sections to a position in which their axis is vertical even though the vessel may be tilted. 